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Obsessed Report Card: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

It's way too early to call Brookyn Nine-Nine the most fun new show of the year; we are literally, like, 72 hours into new-TV season. But I really liked a lot of things about it: I'm into the setting, I'm into the romances already being set up, I'm even into the flashbacks, which I wasn't sure about at the beginning (Andre Braugher in '70s regalia finally sold me).

All of that aside, there's one major reason to keep an eye on this show—one major reason I'm willing to bet you fake $25,000 right now that in May, we'll all agree that this was the best new comedy of the season: the ensemble.

Every show starts with a star and a schtick: As Leslie Knope, Amy Poehler is an earnest civil servant who takes her local-government job White House grade seriously. As Mindy Lahiri, Mindy Kaling is a rom-comobsessed ob-gyn navigating love and career. As Jessica Day, Zooey Deschanel is a quirky, newly heartbroken gal who finds her new home and urban family on Craigslist.

But our favorite shows—like the ones described above—really win our hearts when they bring delightful ensembles to the table. We come for the big talent, we stay for Retta's priceless lines, Ike Barinholtz's grody antics and Lamorne Morris's kooky outlook. And what I found most exciting about Brooklyn Nine-Nine's premiere ep was the feeling that we're about to fall in love with some new supporting players.

I can't even choose a favorite: I mean, it's amazing to watch the walking gravitas that is Andre Braugher discussing the nickname "Terry Titties" with a completely straight face. I adored Joe Lo Truglio as the timid, dorky guy in love with glowering, black-clad Stephanie Beatriz. And as Andy's partner, Melissa Fumero is a spitfire with some Rashida-esque intelligent bemusement mixed in.

I didn't forget about Chelsea Peretti (the spacy office manager); I actually think her premiere-ep lines didn't live up to her natural hilarity, but I have no doubt she will be one of your favorite people ever by Halloween. The key here is ensemble potential, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine is clearly full of it—which is especially valuable since (and producers seem hip to this) Andy's comic vibe is big and bawdy and could probably get a little much without clearly defined supporting characters to ground him.

Overall, I loved it. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has earned its A, not to mention this GIF of a kitten on the force giving his dog partner a wake-up call.